For many years we in the magic community have avoided the use of the word "trick". There are many reason we have avoided using the word, some claim that it cheapens the magic referring to dogs and prostitutes who perform "tricks". Some act like what we perform should always be called something else, like an "effect" or "illusion". I feel like this isn't necessary.
During the Olympics I found the announcers calling many things that were completely artistic "tricks". Shaun White referred to "landing tricks" and his couch said they were "practicing a new trick". If a snowboarder can call what they do "tricks" I feel like I can call what l do tricks as well. What really surprised me is ice skating. One of the reasons used for not calling magic "tricks" is that it prevents it from being considered an art. Now, if you asked a hundred lay people which was more of an art magic or ice skating I'm pretty certain that most people would say ice skating was. And, in ice skating they refer to many of the aspects of their performance as tricks. A similar dynamic comes into play when talking about ballroom dancers and their lifts and stunts.
I recently watched an interview with Penn and Teller where the interviewer asks them if they prefer to call what they do tricks or illusions. To paraphrase Penn, he says, what we do are tricks,there's nothing wrong with that. Other magicians say they perform illusions but they are using the word wrong. We need to get away from the word "effect" in magic.
I really feel like I agree with Penn, I'll try to find the exact interview so I can be more accurate but what he says is true. From time to time we will use optical illusions in our magic but I really don't think that makes us illusionists. By the same measure if we talk about tricks sold here on Theory 11 I think we need to talk about them as tricks. For a trick like Vertigo by Rick Lax Vertigo its self is not an effect, the effect is that a box or deck of cards balances in an impossible way.
When we mix up the use of these words I feel like it does nothing but muddy up the water and makes communication more difficult where it doesn't have to be.
During the Olympics I found the announcers calling many things that were completely artistic "tricks". Shaun White referred to "landing tricks" and his couch said they were "practicing a new trick". If a snowboarder can call what they do "tricks" I feel like I can call what l do tricks as well. What really surprised me is ice skating. One of the reasons used for not calling magic "tricks" is that it prevents it from being considered an art. Now, if you asked a hundred lay people which was more of an art magic or ice skating I'm pretty certain that most people would say ice skating was. And, in ice skating they refer to many of the aspects of their performance as tricks. A similar dynamic comes into play when talking about ballroom dancers and their lifts and stunts.
I recently watched an interview with Penn and Teller where the interviewer asks them if they prefer to call what they do tricks or illusions. To paraphrase Penn, he says, what we do are tricks,there's nothing wrong with that. Other magicians say they perform illusions but they are using the word wrong. We need to get away from the word "effect" in magic.
I really feel like I agree with Penn, I'll try to find the exact interview so I can be more accurate but what he says is true. From time to time we will use optical illusions in our magic but I really don't think that makes us illusionists. By the same measure if we talk about tricks sold here on Theory 11 I think we need to talk about them as tricks. For a trick like Vertigo by Rick Lax Vertigo its self is not an effect, the effect is that a box or deck of cards balances in an impossible way.
When we mix up the use of these words I feel like it does nothing but muddy up the water and makes communication more difficult where it doesn't have to be.
